The shadow Brexit secretary tweeted that it was better to ‘save lives and protect’ than ‘investigate afterwards’.
Photograph: Martin Argles/The Guardian

Keir Starmer, the shadow cabinet member and former chief prosecutor, has called for mandatory funding for refuges amid criticism over a shake-up of funding for women’s services.

Abuse survivors and charities have warned the lives of vulnerable women and children will be put at risk by government plans to remove refuges and other forms of short-term supported housing from the welfare system.

On average, housing benefit makes up 53% of refuge funding and as there is no obligation for local authorities to fund refuges, is the last remaining guaranteed source of income.

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The plans have been met with fierce criticism and calls for the proposals to be overhauled.

Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions (DPP) and shadow Brexit secretary, called for mandatory funding.

The proposals would mean women fleeing abusive partners will not be able to pay for their accommodation using housing benefit, the last guaranteed source of income available to refuges.

Instead of being able to use housing benefit to fund refuges, the government proposes handing a “ring-fenced” grant to councils for short-term supported housing. However, this does not exclusively cover refuges – it is also aimed at older people, homeless people, offenders, people with mental illnesses and drug addicts.

Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer)

Let's stop this perpetual argument about funding for refuges by making funding mandatory. Save lives & protect rather than investigate afterwards. https://t.co/7epDYMVyjM

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, told the Guardian: “We urgently need to save women’s refuges and other forms of supported housing that are reliant on housing benefit to stay open.

“The government does not seem to understand that this is genuinely a matter of life and death and that refuges are a lifeline for those most in need. We will not let this happen without a fight.

“In the last few years we have seen a number of proposals to change the funding and regulations governing the operation of supported housing, each of which have chipped away at these vital services. I am seeing the impact of this on the ground in my constituency surgeries and in the casework I am getting every week, and it is the same story right across the country”.

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Sophie Walker, the leader of the Women’s Equality Party, said: “The government must drop these shameful and damaging proposals as a matter of urgency.

“Over the last seven years, specialist services for victims of domestic violence have been cut to the bone, and Women’s Aid are right to warn that it is a ‘matter of life and death’ for women and children.

“Preventing housing benefit from being used to pay for refuges is the latest in a long line of policies that strip vulnerable people of support when they need it most.

“Forcing refuges to compete with other, non-specialist, services for grants shows ministers have failed to take note of the damage already caused by the introduction of competitive tendering.

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“By bringing forward these plans now, in the midst of the Westminster sexual harassment scandal, the government has also made clear that it does not understand – or will not take the steps needed to address – the endemic power imbalance that drives inequality.”

The document detailing the proposals, published in October, contains a caveat that funding for refuges will be looked at in November 2018, but provides no further details or reassurance.

A government spokesperson said: “Until 2020, the government is providing £100m of dedicated funding for tackling violence against women and girls. This includes a £20m fund to support refuges and other accommodation-based services, providing 2,200 additional bed spaces.

“We will publish a landmark draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill to protect and support victims, recognise the life-long impact domestic abuse has on children and make sure agencies effectively respond to domestic abuse.”